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[Peak][Alport/Youlgreave][Bench Buttress][Various 4-7b+ish] (Read 3276 times)

Andy B

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Bench Buttress, Youlgreave

An obvious buttress in a lovely open location by a stream and footbridge. Park in Alport and walk in as for Rheinstor but continue along the flat track until the buttress appears. Alternatively a shorter approach is from Youlgreave, from which the buttress is visible, but parking here is trickier and more likely to annoy the residents. I have had nothing but friendliness from the locals but apparently there is something rare near the top of the crag so don’t go questing through the choss. It’s probably worth avoiding on nice weekends as you’ll be dabbing pensioners all the way along the middle section.
The rock quality isn’t up to the standards of rheinstor but the climbing is more pleasant.
There are about a dozen up problems from 4ish to 7aish the best of which I’ve listed below, but the rock deteriorates with height so I finished them all at the first line of grassy breaks at about 10-12 feet. The buttress has a range of styles from slabby/vertical to roof and even a finger crack but the traverses are the main event, and cover a bit of everything.

Press, 4ish
sit start the stepped flake line heading rightwards to finish with hands above the niche formed by the opposing flakes

Vice, 6aish
Sit start just left of the bench and head straight up to the finish of Press or stay right of the flakes for a harder finish

Mr Gee, 7aish (maybe harder?)
The centre of the roof. Start above the bench. Left hand on the back wall, right hand on the first rail in the roof (above the centre, right of the bench). Bust out a big move to the big twin flatties and continue straight up to finish carefully on a black chert lump about 4 feet above the flatties.

Mark, 6bish
Sit start the finger crack just right of the bench.

Ifley, 7b+ish
The right to left traverse, starting on the ledges at the far right, crossing the crimpy wall to a crux over the right side of the bench, passing the large twin flatties in the centre of the roof and pushing on to reverse Press and finish on the grassy ledges at the far left.

ijioke, 7bish
The left to right traverse, starting at the grassy ledges, passing an easier crux in the roof and finishing on ledges to the right of the vertical wall.

Fiend

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Nice one, any pics? (of the buttress, not random pensioners)

Andy B

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Yes, but no way to post them at the mo. I can send them to you if you would like to pm me your number?

Fiend

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Send em to Bonjoy, he can post them  up ;)

Andy B

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You’ll be waiting two years, the rate at which he posts his own stuff up these days.

tomc

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Nice one Andy banks. Thought you’d dipped into retirement?

SA Chris

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Wot no IG account to link to ??

Andy B

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Thanks Tom. Not retired, just falling apart and limping on. Hope you’re well.

Andy B

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Wot no IG account to link to ??

Absolutely not.
WhatsApp and UKB are the full extent of my social media, and I’m not sure about UKB.

bolehillbilly

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Nice one Andy, I seem to remember there was a route recorded up there in an old guide or new routes update but like you mention not recommended due to the flora higher up.
Be keen to see some pics.

Andy B

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Hi Marc, cheers.
I’ll email you some pics now.

SA Chris

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Wot no IG account to link to ??

Absolutely not.
WhatsApp and UKB are the full extent of my social media, and I’m not sure about UKB.

Never going to be an international megastar with that talk.

Bonjoy

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Great stuff Andy! I vaguely recall seeing some rock over that way with a bench quite close to it.

highrepute

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There some pics on here, and here. I was there the other day looks good.

Crayfish in the stream for lunch I imagine.

SA Chris

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Benchmark being the obvious name omission.

Fiend

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What a charming looking spot  :)

UnkArl

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“Raper Lodge” sounds a bit iffy  :(

remus

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Nice work on this stuff Andy. Had a chance to check it out today and had a great session.

I didn't finish it but I thought Ifley was particularly good, some great moves crossing the overhang. Probably missing a trick but I couldn't work out the start on Mr Gee, instead i started matched on the rail (that you describe as the RH starting hold) and went to the big flatties (another cool move!), this felt fairly natural and maybe 6C/+ ish.

Andy B

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Hiya Remus, glad you enjoyed it.
Bench Ifley is definitely the main event there.

On Mr Gee, I just held a token poor hold on the wall (I can’t remember exactly what), with most of my weight on my right hand and right foot, in an attempt to start as low as possible before the bench obstructed access. Not particularly satisfactory, so starting matched on the rail may make more sense.
I remember thinking that the holds on the back wall were good enough for someone with thin calfs to sit start on the bench with their legs through the gaps in back, but there was a potentially leg snapping fall if your hands blew, and getting your legs out without dabbing the bench would be like playing a game of Operation.

 

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